Water heater



R. 1. HUTCHINS AND1. K|RBY,1R.

WATER HEATER.

4APPLICATION FILED 00T. 4. 1919.

WI TN ESSES:

RUFUS J. HUTCHINS AND JOHN KIRBY, JR., DAYTON,

DAYTON MANUFACTURING OHIO.A y

j i ,FF l C OHIO, ASSIGNORS T0 THE COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF 'WATER HEATER.

maar.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1922.

Application tiled October '4, 191:9. Serial No, 328,561.

To all whomz't may concern.:

Be it known that we, RUFUS J HU'roHrNs and JOHN KIRBL'J r., citizens of the United States, and residents of Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented `certain new and useful Improvements in Water Heaters, of. which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of our specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in water heaters of the type adapted to domes-A tic purposes.

Our invention has for its objects to provide improved means for1 supporting the outer casing for the heater upon the heating unit within the same; whereby the casing may be rotated on its support and fixed at any desired angle relative to the heating unit or exterior attachments, to provide vmeans for defiecting ,heat generated by a burner, located at t-he lower endof the casing toward the center of the heating unit, and to ,provideimproved means for connecting the tubes of the heating unit with the heads thereof, together with other objects which will be disclosed in thel specifcatlon.

With the aforesaid vobjects in view theinvention co'nslsts in the, novel construction hereinafter fully described in the specifica-- tion, illustrated in the drawings and more particularly pointed out in the claims(- In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specifi ation; Figure 1 represents the complete heaer, in elevation, with its hinged door section 'open and showing the heating unit and the burner in their respective positions; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section takenthrough the line X X of Figure 1; Fig. 3 is al enlarged broken sectionaLview of the uppe manner in which the tubes are connected therewith, and Fig;l4'is a view in elevation, of the heating unit, the casing being removed.

In the said drawings,

A represents a heating unit comprislng a series of. tubes 1, joined at theirends to up-v lEier and lower headers, -2-3, the upper.

eader comprising a baise .section 2 and a tube section 2", and the lower header comprising a base section 3f and a tube section 3, sections 2' and 3 are each provided' with an nd lower headers showing the v of the door or B annular shoulder 1f-,4 against which when the sections are screwed vtogether the upper edge of the vertical rim -of the respective sections, 2"-3,'impinges, thus forming a watertight joint, as shown in Figure 3, and when the sections are assembled for service they form chambers 5.'-6, the said tubes being located .near the peripheral walls of the headers. i i

AThis heating unit is attached, at 7 to and l1s supported in an upright position by a supply pipe 8 leading from and connecting with a tank from which water flows into' the chamber 6,.thenc e upwardly through the tubes l into the chamber 5 and outwardly therefrom through a tubular extension 9,

which in the present instance is shown formed integral with the section 2 of the header 2 and to whiclifis connected a discharge pipe leading back into the supply.

tank, from which tank the hot water 1s drawn in theusual'manner.

"To expedite assembling the headers, there is formed thereon hexagon portions 10, 11 to accommodate a wrench, by the use of vwhich the header section may be screwed tightly together, in the topend of the portion 1() there is'formed an annular recess 12 and the closed position by-means of'suitable catch' devices, such, for example, as are shown at 16, 17, the upper-end of the part B terminates in a seml-annular vertical liange or collar portion 18 which extends above and below the point of union with said part B and fits over or around the tubular extension 9 with its lower end resting on the bottom of the recess 12, thus the casing is supported in a suspended position around the heating unit and can be set in any position to permit partof the casing being opened at any desired angle relative to surrounding objects, and when so set and the nut 13' is screwed down until the bottom of the recess 14 bears hard against the upper' end ofthe collar portion 18 part B will be maintained in a fixed position regardlessof whether the door section is open `or closed,

extension member v9 and h l close. At the bottom of t e casing, which 1s the upper end of partB or door half of the casing being cut away at `19 to receive the ermit the door to of air into a combustion chamber hereinafter and around the heating unit.

described. e

In order to obtain the most efliclent result inthe utilization of heat generated by the burner the distance from the' face of the burner to the bottom of the heating unit is unimportant factor and which in our im proved heater, as above described,is established and maintained through the fixed location of the burner in the casing and the collar portion 18, at the upper end of the casing, resting in the recess l2 at the top of the header 2, which latter construction performsthe dual function of supporting the casing over and around the heating unit and controlling the distance ben tween the face of the burner and the bottom of the unit, thus avoiding inefficient operation of the heaters through carelessness or ignorance on the part of those intrusted with their installation.

Another important factor in the efficiency of water heaters of the class to which the present invention belongs lies in the form v and dimensions of the casing relatively to theheating unit, and in order to obtain proper combustion and te utilize the heat generated by the burner te the best advantage in heating the water as it flows through the heating unit` the lower part of the casing is enlar ed to form a combustion chamber D, within which thel flame from the burner mixes with air, admitted in regulated quantity into the chamber through suitable openings formed in or around the burner` the diameter of the casing at a point slightly above the header 3 being reduced to a degree which while not tending to impede the passage of the products of combustion upward confines the same to a reduced area and distributes the heat more effectively between The upper end of the casing also is enlarged to allow for free escape of the heat products into a flue-pipe 22 by which the same are carried into the outer atmosphere.

On the inside of the casing and spaced apart therefrom there is located,`within the chamber D, a deflector E, which may be secured .to the casing by means of bolts or rivets 23, or by other suitable means, its function being to direct the heat between the tubes of the" heating unit towards the inside thereof, and also tol protect this .por-

tion of the casing from direct contact with *j the heat from the burner.

Heretofore, in constructingwater heaters of the' type to which this specification relates it has been customary tosolder lthe ends of the tubes to theheaders in order 'to formv water tight joints and when heat is applied to the'heating unit and there is no water in the unit, as frequently happens, the heat melts the solder, often causing leaky joints, necessitating repairs which are bot-h costly and annoying. In our improved heater this serious objection is overcome byl Y slightly taper, as at 26, and the bossed portions 24 of the header sections 2--3 are provided with corresponding taper bores to receive the tube "endsl ln assembling the heating unit the tubes, 'of which in the present instance there are thirteen and which number may be increased or diminished. are first arranged with one end of each tube engaging one of the taper bores of either of the sections 2 or 3, the other of the said two sections is then similarly placed in position on the opposite ends of the tubes when by the application ef pressure the said taper surfaces of the tubes and theheader sections are forced into water tight connections and the joints thus established held against disturbance by lapping `the ends of the tubes over the inner side of the walls 25, preferably into a countersink formed therein as shown at 27 in said Figure 3.

Ifthe heating element comprised two ormore rows of tubes in its construction the flow orpassage of water through the tubes from the bottom to the top header would have a tendency to pass in greatest quantity I,throughthcse tubes directly over,'or

nearly so, the inlet water supply pipe attached to the bottom header.

Assuming the heater is connected to city pressure and cold water only is ldrawn through the .heater and out of a faucet attached to the outlet of the heater, it is nat# ural there would be a How through all the tubes but it is equally natural that the greatest flew would be through the tubes directly over or contiguousto the inlet supply pipe. When water under pressure enters such constructed apparatus, if the ap aratus Ais sealed at its outlet the pressure of) is equal.v in each tube; but upon opening the outlet the pressure is increased on' the central or inner tubes and therefore the. passage ofwater in greatest volume is through the inner tubes. It -is realized that, at one and the same time water is passing through all of the tubes.

Connect this heating element in position to city water and a storage tank, apply heat'as in the heating of a gas tank water heater,

and the water heated in the heating unit isthe moment heat is applied the pressure equation is instantly changed as hereinabove mentioned.- Moreover, by placing a multiple of rows of tubes -in the element excessive condensation would result.

By employing preferably one row of tubes, specifically located as hereinabove described, several things are accomplished, among. which are: an equal efiiciency in the appara.- tus; a great saving in material and labor in construction; greater stability .of construction; and a reduction in condensation and its attendant deleterious effects on the tubing.-

To install the heater, the heating unit is first attached to the water supply pipe in an upright position, as shown in Figure 4, the' casing is then .mounted upon and secured to the heatingv unit in thedesired position, as before explained, the burner is then placed in position within the casing, to which it may be secured by any-suitable means, none being shown, after which theburner is connected up with the fuel supply and when the proper water connections are made the heater is ready for service. l

`Wey claim: v f

l. In a water heater, in combination, a heating unit, a water supply pipe connected therewith and constituting a support therefor, a casing comprising two sections hingedtogether adapted to inclose said unit; one of said sections -having av vertically disposed flange member at the 'upper end thereofy which engages an annular recess formed in said unit, a threaded` extension projecting upwardly from saidv unit, and a nut operative on said extension having an annular recess formed in the under side thereof to en- 'gage\ the upper end of said flange member;

It will be` borne in mind thatvv with upper and lower headers forming enlarged chambers with which said tubes communicate, an exteriorly screw threaded member extending upwardly from the upper of said headers, an annular recess. formed in said upper header near the base of and s urroundin the said member, a casing in'- closing sai unit provided"with a vertically disposed integral member extending above and below its point of union with the casing y and-adapted to engageand rest in said rei cess, an interiorly screw threaded nut operative' on said upwardly extending memberand having an annular recess formed in the under side thereof adapted to engage the upper end of saidintegral membervandl to'secure the same firmly in said recess; whereby 'the casing is supported in a suspended position upon and wholly by said unit.

3. In a water heater, in combination, a heating unit comprising a series of vertically disposed tubeshaving their ends connected with upper'and lower headers forming enlarged chambers with which said tubes communicate, an exteriorly screw threaded member extending upwardlyv from the upper of said headers, an annular recess formed in said upper header near the base of and surrounding the said member, a-'casing inclosing said unit provided with a vertically disposed integral member extending above and below its point of union with the casing and adapted to engage and rest in said recess, an interiorly screw threaded nut operative on said upwardly extending member and having an 100 annular recess formed in the under Side thereof adapted to engage the upper end of said integral member a-nd to secure the same firmly in said recess; whereby the casing "is supported in a suspendedvposition upon and wholly by said unit, a water supply- -pipe connected with said unit and constituting' a support therefor, and means located below said unit for generating heat within said casing. I

4. In a water heater, in combination, a heating unit comprising a series of tubes joined to upper and lower headers, an outlet member. extending upwardly fromjthe upper ofsaid headers, a recess formed in said 115.

header at and aroundthe base of'said outlet member, an adjustable nut operativemon said outlet member abovewsaid recess and having a corresponding recess formed in the under side thereof, a casing inclosing said unit and suspended therearound by means of' a vertically disposed flange member formed thereon at'the top end thereof and engaging the said, recesses. v

5. In a wate-r heater, a heating unit, a supply pipe connected with and constituting the support for said'unit, a casing comprising two longitudinal sections l hinged Atogether;` said sections when' closed forming` an inclosure for said unit and acombustion chamber therebelow; one of said sections having a vertically disposedfiange member at the upper end thereof which engages an annular recess formed in said unit,a thread-y ed extension projecting upwardly from said unit, and a nut operative on said extension having an annular recess formed in the under side thereof to engage the upper endl .adaptedto incase a heating unit,fone of said sections havingf at its u per end a vertically disposed integral member extending above and below its point of union with the casing and adapted to engage a fixed and a movable annularrecess. at the upper end of the heating unit and to support the casing in suspended position upon said unit; and the other of said sections being adapted to be opened to afford access to said unit and when closed tocooperate with said first men-` tioned section in forming an inclosure therefor.

7. In water heater construction, a heating unit comprising upper and lower headers each consisting of two peripherally threaded sections screwed together to form a charn-` ber-and a series of vertically disposed tubes united at their'respective ends to said headers and communicatingwith said chambers; one section 'of each header being formed with an annular shoulder against which the outer vertical. of the other section impinges; taperedholes extending through the horizontal wall of each header provided with countersinks on one side thereof; said tubes having corresponding tapered ends which extend through said holes`1 and are held firmly therein by flang-ing their free ends outwardly in said countersinks over one section of each header on the inside oftheir respective chambers.

8. In a water heater, in combination, a

heating unit comprising a series of vertically arranged tubes joined to upper and lower headers, an exteriorly threaded outlet member extending upwardly from the upper of said headers, an annular recess lformed in said upper header at the base of said outlet member, an adjustable nut operative on said outlet member and having an annular recess formed `in the unde-r side thereof, and a casing inclosing said unit and suspended therearound by means of a vertically disposed flange member formed thereon and engaging the said recesses.

9. A new-article of manufacture comprising a header for water heating units consisting of a base section and' tube section; sa1d base section terminating in a vertically disposed exteriorly screw threaded rim hav-v ing an annular shoulder adjacent thereto;

and said tube section consisting of ahorizontally disposed disk-like member terminating in a vertically disposed interiorly screw threaded rim registering and adapted to couple with said first mentionedlrim and to seat against said shoulder; the ,two sections when coupled together forming a chamber, l

said tube section .being provided with a series of tube-bosses located on one side of said dish-like member and having tapered perforations Iextending therethrough into said chamber and adapted to receive tubes having correspondingly tapered ends `and comprising a feature of saidwater heating unit, said tapered perforations being proadjacent thereto; and a tube section comprising a horizontal wall terminating in avertically disposed screw threaded member adapted to engage said first mentioned member and to impinge said shoulder, said horizontal wall being provided with a series of boss members havlng taperedperforations which extend through said wall, and which are provided `with reverse countersinks formed in` the wall opposite the said bosses, the ends of said tubes being correspondingly tapered and engaging said perforations; the tubes beingheld firmly therein by flanging their free ends outwardly in said countersinks over the tube section of each header'- on the inside of their respective chambers.

RUFUS J. HUTCHINS. JOHN KIRBY,'JR Witnesses:

B. F. Bum', H. B. Meer. 

